By Paul Hucul

1. VACFSS: A Story of Success
Through Wise Practices
Presented by: Paul Hucul

2. Background
• VACFSS incorporated in 1992
• Largest urban Child Welfare
Agency in Canada
• Serves Aboriginal children and families in
the City of Vancouver (COV)
• 11,140 Aboriginals reside in the COV*
• 1981 registered bands in BC*
*2006 census

3. Snapshot of VACFSS
• 154 employees
• Delegated at Child Protection Level
• 33 million dollar budget
• 476 Children in Care
• 200 Foster Parent Homes
• Unionized Environment (BCGEU)

4. Path to a Successful Delegated
Urban Based Aboriginal Agency

5. Specific Challenges
• Change management – cataclysmic change
• Family Support Model to a
legislated Model of Child Welfare
• Enormous staffing growth
• Funding negotiations
• Incorporating Aboriginal Best Practice
• Diverse urban cultural environment
• Development of cultural competency

6. The Seven Key Success
Factors
Steps to Success:
Aboriginal Best Practices

7. Step 1:
Identity and
Culture

8. Identity and Culture
• Cultural competency as the pathway
• Recognition of Aboriginal diversity
• Aboriginal World View Model
• Traditional teachers, elders and
knowledge keepers
• Systematically integrated culture
• Ground culture in events

9. Step 2: Leadership (Siiyamints)

10. Leadership (Siiyamints)
• Development of strong
Aboriginal leadership
• Cloaked in the bestowed
name “Siiyamints”
• Guided by the Chieftain Stick spirit
• Development of specific characteristics of
successful leadership

11. Value Driven Leadership
1. Humility
2. Integrity
3. Strength – Based Practice
4. Belonging
5. Respect

12. Characteristics of VACFSS
Leadership
• Value driven
• Emphasis on culture
• Flexibility
• Resilience
• Utilization of elder/knowledge
keeper model
• Love of VACFSS

13. Step 3: Strategic Vision
and Planning (2005 – present)

14. Strategic Vision and Planning
The VACFSS vision:
“A balanced and harmonious
Aboriginal Community”

15. Six Strategic Priorities
1. Decrease the number of
Aboriginal children in continuing care
2. Develop a full range of child,
youth and family services
3. Develop and implement a culturally and
spiritually appropriate system of care

16. Six Strategic Priorities cont’d
4. Ensure strong governance
of the organization
5. Develop and implement effective
communication strategies
6. Develop and implement strategic and
risk management strategies

17. Step 4: Governance and
Management

18. Governance
• Establishment of strong board with quality
and talented directors having long tenure
• Utilized the Carver Model of Governance
and presently the Complimentary Model
• Have own governance policy
• All Board have been provided training by
expert advisors

19. Management
• Appointed Managers who have life
experience, high qualifications, and who
bring wisdom, knowledge and integrity
• Development of efficacy
• Development of capacity
• “Investment in Excellence” – Pacific
Institute

20. Step 5: Accountability and
Stewardship

21. Accountability and Stewardship
• Internal audits
• Financial audits
• External Operational and Practice audits
• BOD/Management planning sessions
• Strong Policy and Procedures gave a
framework to accountability

22. Step 6: Performance
Evaluations

23. Annual Performance
Evaluations
• CEO evaluated by board
• Managers evaluated by CEO/DOP
• Supervisors evaluated by managers
• Employees evaluated by supervisors

24. Step 7: Collaboration, Partnership
and Good Relationships

25. Collaboration, Partnership and
Good Relationships
• MCFD – strong working committees
• Vancouver Aboriginal community
• Aboriginal agencies within Vancouver
• Aboriginal communities throughout BC

26. Specific Key Practices:
VACFSS Management
• Established strong business plan
• Developed strong financial infrastructure
• Developed strong recruitment
and hiring practices
• Re-engineered organizational structure to
facilitate culture
• Deliver extensive organizational training
• Developed a model for a
welcoming work environment

27. Key Characteristics of the
Collective Spirit
• Value driven
• Belief in Aboriginal self determination
• Indomitable spirit
• Love of Aboriginal children and families
• Love of VACFSS
• Love of Culture

28. Future Challenges
• Sustain sufficient funding
• Recruitment and hiring of
Aboriginal employees
• Succession planning for
Aboriginal leadership
• Assuming Adoption delegation

29. Future Challenges (cont’d)
• Youth services
• Reducing the number of
children in continuing care
• Increasing demand for services

30. “Fortune Favours the
prepared mind”